---
title: "Finley is a BMX Champ!"
url: "https://balshaws.org.uk/news/2023-07-21-finley-is-a-bmx-champ"
school: "Balshaw’s Church of England High School"
---

# Finley is a BMX Champ!

  ![Image of Finley is a BMX Champ!](https://files.schudio.com/balshaws/images/news/FH_cropped.JPG)  21 July 2023

We are incredibly proud of Finley, in Year 8, who has been competing in BMX competitions since he was 5 years old! All his dedication and hard work has certainly paid off as Finley is now ranked as the European Number 5!

You can read more about his fabulous achievement in the information below that Finley’s Dad has shared with school and also see some wonderful photographs from the event!

*In July Finley competed in the European BMX Championships in Besancon France.*

*He was up against the best riders from every part of Europe – a field that extended to 130 of the very best riders from each country.*

*The weather was up at around 33 degrees, but he found that he liked the fast technical track and practice days went very well – which put him in a great place for his race day on Sunday.*

*He approached his race day with some of the very best focus I’ve ever seen, and his quiet confidence was great to see.*

*His racing was exceptional, putting into place all those hours of coaching and practice that often goes unseen, which culminated in Finley making it all the way to the final (an enormous achievement) but not one he un-used to having made the finals on 2 previous occasions (2017 and 2019) – the outcome of which is that Finley is now ranked as the European Number 5 – and will proudly ride on the E5 plate.*

*This has also put him in a great mind set for the upcoming World Championships in Glasgow in August where he will look to echo or improve on his previous World Ranking.*

*Without the support of the School and many others around him none of this would be possible – so we would like to extend our sincere thanks to you all for enabling him to race to his potential, and give him the platform and the mindset to continue to achieve at the highest possible level in the sport..*

*I thought I’d enclose a few photos from the weekend for you all to see…*

*Many thanks for all your support*….Mr Hough

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/news/FH_July_2023_(1).jpg)

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/news/FH_July_2023_(3).jpg)

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/news/FH_July_2023_(2).jpg)

Finley said that he really loves competing and we certainly look forward to hearing more from Finley after the competition in August.

  [Sports News](https://balshaws.org.uk/news/tag/sports-news)

 [ Matilda JR.](https://balshaws.org.uk/news/2023-07-20-matilda-jr) [Exam Results for 2023 ](https://balshaws.org.uk/news/2023-09-05-exam-results-for-2023)

    **Balshaw’s Church of England High School**
 Church Road
 Leyland PR25 3AH

### Useful Links

- [Contact us](https://balshaws.org.uk/contact)
- [Absence Reporting](https://balshaws.org.uk/absence-reporting)
- [Future Events](https://balshaws.org.uk/future-events)
- [Important Dates](https://balshaws.org.uk/calendar)

 © Copyright 2015–2026 Balshaw’s Church of England High School

 School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://balshaws.org.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)